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PRESS RELEASE: Broker Agent 360 has signed an agreement with Movement Mortgage to create and provide customized lead generation services for the company's loan officer and real estate agent relationships throughout the United States. "We...

A broker who worked for hedge fund giant Israel “Izzy” Englander for 28 years is suing his former employer for allegedly being wrongly bounced from his job. Jack Piuggi, who ran American Exchange for brokerage Israel A. Englander & Co., is seeking $5 million in damages. Piuggi claims he was “blindsided” when he was let...

BEIJING (AP) — China is tightening control over foreign companies' internet use in a move some worry might disrupt their operations or jeopardize trade secrets as part of a crackdown on technology that allows web surfers to evade Beijing's online censorship.In a letter to corporate customers seen by The Associated Press, the biggest Chinese internet service provider says virtual private networks, which create encrypted links between computers and can be used to see sites blocked by Beijing's web filters, will be permitted only to connect to a company's headquarters abroad.The letter from state-owned China Telecom Ltd. says VPN users are barred from linking to other sites outside China, a change that might block access to news, social media or business services that are obscured by its "Great Firewall."Authorities have tried to reassure companies they won't be affected, but if the rules in the China Telecom letter are enforced, they could hamper activity ranging from gathering information for business deals to employees working on business trips.A Western diplomat who asked not to be identified further due to the sensitivity of the issue said companies have told his government they worry the controls might lead to weaker data security and trade secrets being leaked to Chinese competitors.[...] companies increasingly limit VPN access to employees such as media managers "with a critical business need" to see a banned website, according to Jake Parker, vice president of China operations for the U.S.-China Business Council."Foreign trade enterprises and multinational companies that need a cross-border line for their own office use can lease one from an authorized telecoms enterprise," said the statement.

BEIJING — As part of a crackdown on Web surfers who evade censorship, China is tightening control over foreign companies’ Internet use — a move that some worry might disrupt their operations or jeopardize trade secrets.In a letter to corporate customers, the biggest Chinese Internet service provider says virtual private networks, which create encrypted links between computers and can be used to see sites blocked by Beijing’s Web filters, will be permitted only to connect to a company’s headquarters abroad.The letter from state-owned China Telecom Ltd. says VPN users are barred from linking to other sites outside China, a change that might block access to news, social media or business services that are obscured by its “Great Firewall.”Authorities have tried to reassure companies they won’t be affected, but if the rules in the China Telecom letter are enforced, they could hamper activity ranging from gathering information for business deals to employees working on business trips.The crackdown reflects President Xi Jinping’s vision of “Internet sovereignty,” or Beijing’s absolute right to control what people can do and see online.Control over information is especially sensitive ahead of a party congress late this year at which Xi is due to be appointed to a second five-year term as leader.Beijing has repeatedly pressured foreign companies to hand over technology, encryption know-how and other trade secrets in exchange for access to its huge and growing market.In a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China last year, 79 percent of companies that responded said Web filters hurt them by blocking access to information and business tools.President Trump said in April he would temporarily set aside disputes with Beijing over market barriers and currency while the two sides cooperated over North Korea’s nuclear program.A Western diplomat who asked not to be identified further due to the sensitivity of the issue said companies have told his government they worry the controls might lead to weaker data security and trade secrets being leaked to Chinese competitors.China Telecom and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which announced the January crackdown, did not respond to requests for information about the letter.[...] companies increasingly limit VPN access to employees such as media managers “with a critical business need” to see a banned website, according to Jake Parker, vice president of China operations for the U.S.-China Business Council.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle Image 1of/18 CaptionClose Image 1 of 18 Looking for a great hamburger? Check out this one at Limewood at the Claremont in Berkeley Looking for a great hamburger? Check out this one at Limewood at the Claremont in Berkeley Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle Image 2 of 18 Muscle chowder Muscle chowder Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle Image 3 of 18 A pristine Little Gems salad. A pristine Little Gems salad. Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle Image 4 of 18 Fried oysters on creamed kale and bacon. Fried oysters on creamed kale and bacon. Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle Image